Bridgwater seconds edge closer to title with Bristol win

BRIDGWATER Seconds moved a step closer to regaining the Premier One title with a hard-fought 56 run victory over Bristol on Saturday.

After being put into bat, the home side lost the in-form Pople early, before a short rain delay reduced the game to 42 overs per side.

Bridgwater proceeded brightly to 68-2, with Josh Vickery (35) looking in good touch before a collapse saw them falter to 73- 5, a precarious position.

Fortunately for Bridgwater the in-form Andrew Skidmore was still at the crease and he was joined by skipper Scott Sealey as they looked to repair the damage.

With eight overs to go Skidmore and Sealey upped the ante and both found maximums as their stand reached 114, before the skipper was eventually caught in the deep for a well made 40, with the score at 187 for 6.

Skidmore had passed his half century by this time and continued in brutal fashion before being dismissed for a match winning 74 off 88 balls with eight fours and three sixes.

The remaining batting chased quick runs and Bridgwater eventually finished on 208 for 7, a competitive score that gave their strong bowling unit something to bowl at.

Higgins managed two wickets in his seven over spell including the dangerous Brown to a good catch by Scott Clapp, which reduced the visitors to 44 for 3.

With Bristol needing 100 from the final 13 overs the partnership was broken by left arm spinner Josh Horler thanks to a superb running catch from Devitt.

This instigated a collapse of wickets as Horler picked up three alongside a run out from Vickery, all of which was superbly supported by an excellent spell from Clapp, who was unfortunate not to pick up a couple of wickets himself.

The Bristol innings fizzled out as they picked up a third batting point reaching 152 for 8, a comfortable winning margin for the league leaders.

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